Jobs with the US Government are available worldwide. Opportunities ebb and flow based on political and economic factors, so the employment picture is always changing. In general, there have been fewer international opportunities with the federal government due to the military downsizing.

• Virtually every government agency has an international division or component.
• Check out state and local government opportunities in addition to federal.
• The best source of employment information is the Office of Personnel Management's website
• Student Opportunities with Federal Government - This site lists job titles currently open for summer, part-time, and internship experiences with the federal government.
• Other helpful resources include the Federal Yellow Book, Federal Staff Directory, U.S. Government Manual, and/or the Washington Information Directory available at most libraries.
• International positions tend to be filled at the higher levels. Most entry-level positions such as clerk or secretary are filled locally. Typical international government positions include:
• administrative
• auditors
• technical and professional positions
• accountants
• foreign service officers
• budget and program officers
• management analysts
• nurses
• procurement officers
• shorthand reporters
• equipment specialists
• engineers
• social workers
• housing officers
• teachers
• alcohol and drug abuse specialists

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Specific government job titles which might involve using another language include:

• Border Patrol Agent
• Customs Officer
• Foreign Affairs Specialist
• Foreign Service Officer
• Immigration Inspector
• Import-export agent
• Intelligence specialist
• International Relations Specialist
• Peace Corps Volunteer
• Research Assistant
• Scientific Linguist

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Government agencies with particularly strong international ties include:

U.S. Department of State
Typical positions include: Foreign Service Officer; Narcotic Control Officer; Diplomatic Security Officer; Security Engineering Officer; Communications Electronics Officer; Building and Maintenance Specialist; Fire Protection Officer; Medical Officer; General Services Officer (Diplomatic); Personnel Officer; Financial Management; Information Management Specialist; Diplomatic Courier; Office of the Legal Adviser

• The State Department also sponsors internships for college students which are an excellent means of acquiring experience.
• To become a Foreign Service officer, you must take the Foreign Service exam.

Foreign Service Exam:

• Approximately 12,000 people took the Foreign Service exam recently; 200 were selected for interviews.
• The State Department schedules testing when enough openings warrant it.
• The multiple choice test requires strong English expression skills, and job-related knowledge.
• A biographic information questionnaire is administered which is like a personality test. The test is scored on a pass-fail basis.
• The first exam stresses American history and culture. Study American history, literature, philosophy and read as much as you can about government, law, and current events.
• Reading sources could include Time and Newsweek magazines, the Wall Street Journal, foreign affairs journals, literary classics, writings of ethnic groups, a grammar book/style manual, the US constitution, government laws, and international conventions and agreements.
• Be familiar with whatever international topics are "hot" at the present time.
• If you pass the written exam, you will be invited to an oral exam.
• If you pass that, you will be placed on a list for up to three years.
• You would enter the Foreign Service as a junior officer.

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Content for this page provided by:
Dr. Kate Brooks, Director, Liberal Arts Career Services, University of Texas at Austin